Dispenser



w. `F. NAGEL DISPENSER Filed March .10, 1937 May 30, 1939.

Patented May 30, 1939 UNITED STATES DISPENSER William F. Nagel, Clermont, Fla., assignor to The .Air Konditioning Company, Clermont, Fla., a

corporation of Florida Application March 10, 1937, Serial No. 130,019

/ claims. (ci. i5- 45) This application is a continuation in part of my co-pending application for United States Letters Patent, Serial No. 40,383, filed September 13, 1935.

5 This invention relates to improvements in dispensers for hydrophilic materials such as salt or the like, and refers specifically to a dispenser so,

constructed that the hydrophilic material during the dispensing operation passes through channels l0 or passageways formed in a dispenser head constructed of a material having relatively great ailinity for water or moisture.

' Although my invention is adaptable for the dispensing of any type of material displaying a high degree of afilnity for moisture, for purposes of description, it will be described in conjunction with its use as a salt server, shaker or cellar.

One of the most annoying and exasperating situations which is tolerated day in and day out, arises in the dispensing of salt at certain periods from the commonly used salt cellar or shaker. During damp weather itis a common experience to have the salt cake in the dispenser or have it accumulate in a moist condition at the lower face of the dispenser head where it effectively blocks the usually small dispensing openings.

The usual perforated dispensing head is invariably the seat of the difliculty. Such heads are frequently constructed of metal or some such n material having a relatively high degree of heat conductivity which is conducive to moisture condensation, and in substantially all cases the head is non-absorbent to moisture. Consequently, at the location where the salt or other dispensed material encounters the most difficulty in flowing, because of the relatively small perforations, it is most apt to encounter moisture, both conditions' conspiring to prevent the convenient dispensing of the salt or other material. 40 My invention isparticularly directed to a construction which is adapted to cure the defects' above mentioned, and contemplates the provision of a shaker or dispenser head constructed of a material having a relatively great 4I aiilnity for moisture, .that is, th material is characterized both by its moisture absorbent properties and also its properties'of relatively low heat conductance. The head is so constructed that the dispensed material, salt for lo instance, when the dispenser is inverted, contacts the absorbent material comprising the head, and in addition, the dispensing openings or apertures comprise channels or bores through the thickness of the absorbent material comprising 55 the head. Thus, upon inverting the dispenser a various large mass of the salt-or other contents of the dispenser not only comes'into contact with the head, but the material comprising the head defines the channels or bores through which the salt or other contents is dispensed. Obviously, 5 therefore, at or adjacent the zone where the caking or wetting of the salt or other contents would be most annoying or disadvantageous to convenient dispensing, a material is situated (the material comprising the head) which is con- 10 ducive to theremoval or absorption of the moisture. Therefore, under extremely humid conditions, seldom met with in practice, ca king of the salt will never take place at the place where it would do most harm, that is, adjacent the head l5 or dispensing openings.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawing and following detailed description.

In the drawing, y

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a dispenser, parts being broken away and parts being shown in section. ,A

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of a modified form of dispenser head.

Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are similar views of modifications, illustrating different means of securement to the dispenser body.

Referring in detail to the drawing, lI indicates a conventional condiment dispenser or shaker which may comprise a body I, constructed of glass, china or other material conventionally used for such'purposes, and a dispensing headA 3 which comprises an embodiment of my invention.

Of course, the body 2 of the dispenser may take 35 any desired shape or form so long as it is capable of carrying a dispensing head constructed in conformity with my invention. 'I'he head 3 'may be constructed'of any material which possesses Water absorbent or so-called drying materials, 40 such as diatomite, various earths, clays, calcium salts or the like. The material is preferably of relatively small particle size and may, if necessary, be mixed with a binder whereby the head may be pressed, molded or otherwise formed to suitable shape and proportions.

The head 3 is adapted to be mounted at the open mouth of the container 2, and is held in desired position by means of an annular collar l which may be constructed of metal, Bakelite", hard rubber or other Isuitable material. The lower portion of the collar 4 is formed to provide threads 5 which engage with cooperating threads formed adjacent the mouth of the con-l tainer 2. The upper portion of collar 4 is in- 55 wardly turned to-provide an annular flange or shoulder 9 which engages with the top of the head 3. At an intermediate portion of the head 3 shoulders are formed which are adapted to engage with a retainer 1 which in turn rests upon the defining edge of the mouth of the container, the retainer, when the collar is screwed in place upon the mouth of the container, being adapted to coniine the head 3 and hold the same against the iiange 6.

The head 3 is provided witha central bore or channel 8 which establishes communication between the interior and exterior of the container. As a feature of my invention, the head 3 is constructed of a drying material or a material having a high aillnity for moisture and by the provision container.

pensed must pass through the bore and, hence,

of the bore 8 the salt or material to be dispensed passes through said bore. The head per se comprises considerable volume of drying material and in addition is so constructed that, when the container is inverted, a considerable area of said head contacts the salt or other contents of the In addition, the salt in being dissubstantially all of the individual particles of salt dispensed must at some period during the dispensing operation contact the material comprising the head. Obviously, the opportunity for a transfer of moisture from the salt or other contents of the container to the head is a maximum, and dispensing diiliculties due to caking or blocking at the dispensing opening are reduced to a minimum.

Further, at any given time a more or less small volume of air is maintained in the container 2. This air must of necessity enter the container through the bore 8 which is of relatively restricted diameter. ture. transfer from the air so entering the container and the head 3 is also a maximum. Although I realize that the moisture absorbing capacity of the head 3 is not unlimited, the periods of excessive humidity encountered are of relatively short duration and are balanced by interspersed periods of reduced humidity. yI have found that, considering average humidity conditions, the presence of the head 3 at the strategic position, as it were, adjacent the dispensing end of the container functions to maintain the body of salt within the container drier than would ordinarily be the case. 'Ihis coupled with the fact that the salt, during dispensing, actually contacts the material of the head in a more or less dispersed condition, that is, with respect to the small cross-section of owing salt which is permitted to pass through the channel 8, materially reduces the possibility of caking of the salt or other contentsof the dispenser or the blocking of the dispensing openings. I

The head of my dispenser, of course, may take many different forms, but in substantially all cases the volume of the material comprising the head is relatively large as compared with the volume of the metal or other materials heretofore used for dispenser heads. In addition, the

length of the channels comprising the dispensing openings is relatively great so that a relatively great opportunity is provided for thecontact of the'salt or other contentsgof the container and head material.

In Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 'l a few modiiled forms of such dispensing heads` are shown.

Referring particularly to Fig. 2, the reference numeral 9 indicates a conventional condiment container having a neck portion I defining its Hence, the opportunity for a moisi mouth. An annular collar I I being provided with threads I2 adjacent its lower end is adapted to be mounted upon the neck I0, the threads I2 being engageable with threads formed upon said neck. A dispenser head I3 constructed of material of a similar nature to the material comprising head 3 is adapted to be conilned within the collar II and is retained within said collar by means of retainer I4 which rests upon the upper defining edge of the neck I9. The head I3 is provided with a bore or channel I5 through which the salt or other material carried within container 9 may be dispensed.

In Fig. 3, indicates a fragmentary portion of a container for salt or the like, having a neck portion I6 provided with external threadswhich are adapted to be vengageable with threads I1 formed on the lower portion of an annular collar I8. The upper portion of the collar I8 is bent inwardly to 'form an angularly disposed annular flange which is adapted to confine or'retain a dispenser head I9 constructed of a material similar to the heads 3 and I3. The upper portion of the head I9 is of frustro-conical shape and terminates at 'its lower portion in cylindrical shape. The lower cylindrical portion of the head I9 is of restricted diameter with respect to the upper conical portion thereof and is adapted to fit within the neck I6 of the container I5. Retainers are positioned at the upper edge of the neck I6, whereby the head I9 is securely held within the collar I8. The head I9A is provided with a central bore or channel 2| through which the salt may be dispensed upon inverting the container I5.

In Figs. 4, '5, 6 and '7, heads are shown which may be mounted upon or over the mouth of containers. u In Fig. 4, 22 indicates a salt container, for instance, having a neck portion 23, the'ex- A ternal surface of which is provided with threads.

A head 24 constructed of moisture absorbent material hereinbefore described is formed in the shape of a paraboloid. An annular recess 25 is provided in the lower portion of the head 24 and is dened by an annular outer wall 26, the internal surface of which is provided with threads which engage with the threads upon the external surface of the neck 23. The head 24 is provided with a central channel or dispensing opening 2l. It can readily be seen-that in this construction the head is of unitary integral form and requires no separate securing means.

In Fig. 5', 28 indicates a container having a neck 29, the internal surface of said neck being provided -with threads which engage threads 39 formed on the restricted lower portion of a dispensing head 3|. The dispensing head 3| resembles the head 24 in shape. However, the head 3| is provided with threads 38 which are adapted to engage internal threads of the neck 29 as opposed to the external engagement of the head 24 with the neck 23. rI'he head 3| is provided with one or more dispensing channels or openings 32, any number of which is contemplated.

Referring particularly to Fig. 6, 33 indicates a container having a restrictedneck 34 upon which a dispensing head` 35 is mounted. The lower portion of the dispensing head 33 is recessed, said recess being defined by the annular walls 36 which are adapted to make frictional engagement with the external surface of the neck 34. The head 35 is provided with a central aperture 31 through which the salt may be dispensed.

In Fig. 7, 38 indicates a conventional container Cil having a neck 39. A head 40 is adapted to be mounted upon or over the mouth of the container 38 and is recessed annularly as indicated at 4I at its lower portion. The restricted lower portion 42 o f the head 40 is adapted to frictionally engage the inner surface of the neck 39. Head 40 is provided with one or more dispensing apertures or channels 43, any number of which are contemplated. It is of course to be understood that the heads 24 3l, 35 and 40 are constructed of a material of similar nature to that constituting heads 3, I3 and I9, The basic material comprising the heads 24, 3l, 35 and 40 is characterized by its high absorptivity. ,Y

It will be noted that in all of the forms illus- I trated and described a limited quantity o`f salt or contents of the container contacts a maximum area of the dispenser head when the container is inverted. In addition, the Volume of each head is relatively large so that ample moisture absorbing capacities may be obtained. Further, the dening walls of the dispensing openings comprise the absorptive material, providing for more intimate contact between the individual particles of salt and the absorptive material whereby a more eiiicient moisture transfer is obtained. A still further characterizing feature of all of the heads resides in the fact that provision is made for a relatively large area of contact between the atmosphere and contents within the containers.

It is to be understood, of course, that the head of the dispenser may take any ldesired form or shape. Accordingly, I do not wish to be limited to the specic modifications illustrated and described since they are merely exemplary of forms which can be conveniently used.

I claim as my invention:

l. In combination, a dispenser for iinely divided material susceptible to caking or sticking when and after being exposed to moisture comprising a container having a mouth, a dispensing head forming a closure for said mouth, said dispensing head being constructed of a hygroscopic material, said head bengprovided with a channel affording communication between the interior and exterior of said container, whereby upon inverting said container contact is aorded between the material of the head and the material to be dispensed.

2. In combination, a dispenser for nely divided material susceptible to caking or sticking when and after being exposed to moisture comprising a container having a mouth, a dispensing head forming a closure for said mouth, said dispensing head being constructed of a hygroscopic material, said head being provided with an elongated channel aiording communication between.

the interior and exterior of said container, whereby upon inverting said container a relatively large degree of contact is afforded between the material of the head and the material to be dispensed.

3. In combination, a dispenser for finely divided material susceptible to caking or sticking when and after being exposed to moisture comprising a container having a mouth, a dispensing head forming a closure for said mouth, said dispensing head of relatively great volume being constructed of a hygroscopic material, said head being provided with a channel aiording communication between the interior and exterior of said container whereby upon inverting said container a relatively large degree of contact is afforded between the material of the head and the material to be dispensed.

4. In combination, a dispenser for finely divided materialsusceptible to caking or sticking when and after being exposed to moisture comprising a container having a mouth, a dispensing head forming a closure for said mouth, said dispensing head being constructed of a. hygroscopic material, said head being provided with a channel aiording communication between the interior and exterior of said container, the area of the head exposed to the interior of the container being at least a. substantial part of the crosssectional area of the mouth of the container, whereby upon inverting said container contact is afforded between the material of the head and the material to be dispensed.

5. In combination, a dispenser for finely divided material susceptible to caking or sticking when and after being exposed to moisture comprising a container having a. mouth, a cap forming a closure for said mouth, sald cap comprising a hygroscopic material, said cap also being provided with an opening affording a communication between the interior and exterior of the container.

WILLIAM F. NAGEL. 

